Bluesky's Jay Graber steps down as CEO
Jay Graber, who became CEO of Bluesky and led it through massive growth to 43 million users, is stepping aside as CEO to become chief innovation officer.
On Monday, March 9, 2026, Bluesky announced that Toni Schneider, a former Automattic CEO and a partner at True Ventures (Automattic and True Ventures are investors in Bluesky), will take over as interim CEO while it looks for a permanent replacement.
Leadership change signals need for fresh direction
Bluesky exploded in popularity after Elon Musk bought Twitter, but with rapid growth came new headaches: moderation challenges and state laws have forced the platform to block users in some states and require extra verification in others.
The leadership change signals Bluesky is looking for fresh direction as it navigates these growing pains.
Who is Jay Graber?
A Tulsa native and UPenn grad, Graber has worked on projects like Zcash and founded Happening before being tapped by Jack Dorsey to lead Bluesky.
She's known for pushing billionaire-proof tech that lets users keep their followers even if they jump platforms.
Who is Toni Schneider?
Schneider brings serious startup cred, he is a former Automattic CEO and a partner at True Ventures.